The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-08
THE suNpAY.scHoo1 QUESTION.

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL QUESTION.
The first hours of the afternoon of
the second day were devoted to Sunday
school topics, and interests. Rev. j. G.
Adams read the Scriptures and offered
prayer. The President introduced the
topic of the afternoon and the first
speaker, Rev. Charles Conklin, of the
Church of the Redeemer, Chicago,
whose address, editorially reported on
our first page, was devoted to discus
sion of
The Formulated Lesson-Paper.
Rev. George Crum, of Macomb, was
the next speaker, his subject, What
Shall the Teacher Teach?" and Rev. L.
M. Andrews, of Dixon, on Parental
Interest" We reserve Mr.. Crum's pa
per for future publication. Rev. Mr..
Andrews spoke substantially as follows:
Parental Interest"
Somebody has said, that if parents would
train up their children in the way they should
go. they had better skirmsh ahead in that line
themselves" This saying applied to the ''con-
ditions of success" of the Sunday-school, has
gold mine in it. in too many of our Sunday
schools, only children attend; then, as a rule
only adults attend church. 1t was an incident
| of slavery, to separate families socially; but
1t is slavery to barbarism and sin that sepa-
rates them at the house of Godi The great
mistake of many parents is, they are com
pletely divorced from their children. Fashion
hands the infant over to the nurse,-then
passes it along in childhood to the governess,
and it grows up ranger to both parents,
an orphan, by the tyranny of fashionl 1t
would be a miracle, should moral character,
or the grace of God, spring out of such So
cial system. When children can have fathers
and mothers of flesh and blood, their spirits
will grow up to know more of our Heavenly
Father. An orator was speaking of Geo.
Washington as very conscientious, religious
boy, when by-stander remarked "but Geo.
Washington had motheri" Yes, though
stately and dignif1ed, she was a real compan-
ion to her son. And this is a point too often
neglected by parents they forget to be COM
panions to their children. No parent is wor-
thy of his children, feels that it is undignified
OF humilating to associate with them. He
ests his children; should enter into their
amusements.-their studies,-their social life
and all that pertains to devotions; should
play games with them; eat with them; work
with them; study, as much as possible with
| them; and especially attend church and Sun
day-school with them;-ehildren love devo-
tions. There are no memories an old man
looks back to with more satisfaction than to
family worship or the mothers goodnight
prayer alone with her child. And children
love to lisp devotions before they can speak
plainly. There is in these things, somehow, a
charm to the little child that is very precious;
and if the parent would go with him to Sun
day-school and church, the child would learn
to love to do SO. But if parents remain at
home the child is apt to tire of going, and
comes to think disregard of this religious
duty a mark of manliness. The mother who
neglects religious culture in her children
sows bitter sorrows that do not fail to grow
1t seems strange indeed, to see children at
tending Sunday school alone,-like orphans
while the parent, as though childless, attends
church and sits in his lonely pew. Duty, at
least, with stern voice. should command the
attendance of all parents at Sunday-school
as well as church, land SO infuse into their
children's minds a lively interest--such as will
forbid dizziness or GOODNESS on the childs part.
A child should not be sent,-he should be ac-
companied to the Sabbath-school; the parent
should be sure to have his lesson prepared
and should. while there, be as little child.
For except We be converted and become
as little children ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of Heaven"
But am asked how we are to arouse this
interest in parents. l answer: LEAD them to
love God; to respect duty; and to intensely
seek for the highest good of their children, in
short conversion" Then for their children's
sake, if for no other reason, they will take a
deep interest in the Sunday-school and church.
Children really should take parents to the
Sunday-school and parents should reciprocate
by taking their children to church. 1t is suf-
ficient to arouse parental interest in this re-
CARDIFF they love their children and are not
grossly ignorant or selfshly Indifferent. Oc-
casionally we find a mother who thinks it use
less for her to attend sabbath-scnool, or for
her child to attend church, but wo usually find
gross selfshness as the con rolling motive.
Such mothers send their boys off down street TO
get rid of them and their noise. and then won
der that they fall into evil habits. So self
blinds their ewes and hardens their hearts.
more love. o Christ, to theel" is the great
need. But until religious interest is aWak-
ened SO as to develop a sense of duty. parent
al interest will languish, and children neg
lected, will run in the streets aud drift to sa-
looms. and bring down fathers and mothers
in sorrow to the grave. / know of but one
royal road to secure parental interest-that is
Christian conversion. Secure that. and rea-
sonsble intelligence, duty and love for God
will do the rest.
The Convention resumed eonsidera-
ton of the Report on Reports with the
result already stated, of adopting the
report as a whole.
A Supplemental Report
was then offered, as follows: Your
committee to whom was referred the
Report of the Universalist w omen's
Association have considered the same
and would respectfully recommend the
adoption of the suggestion therein
named, and submit for approval the
following resolution:
Resolved, that Sabbath-school COM
mittee of seven members be selected by